Continuous Models for Interacting Populations

Abstract

When species interact the population dynamics of each species is affected. In general there is a whole web of interacting species, called a trophic web, which makes for structurally complex communities. We consider here systems involving two or more species, concentrating particularly on 2-species systems. There are three main types of interaction, (i) If the growth rate of one population is decreased and the other increased the populations are in a predator-prey situation, (ii) If the growth rate of each population is decreased then it is competition. (iii) If each population’s growth rate is enhanced then it is called mutualism or symbiosis.